Great news! Congressman Chet Edwards (D-Waco) is staying right here in the Lone Star State. From a press release I just received:
“While it is an honor to have been considered for the position of U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs, I believe I can make the most difference for veterans, our district and country by continuing to serve in Congress. That is why I have informed President-elect Obama’s transition team that I intend to continue representing the 17th Congressional District of Texas.
With my seniority in Congress and as Chairman of the House Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee, I believe I can do more for our military troops, our veterans and their families in my present position than I could as Secretary of Veterans Affairs. At the same time I can continue my work to improve roads, economic infrastructure and the quality of life in the 17th District, a district in which I have deep, personal roots.
The full release is below the fold. I will say that I am very pleased that Congressman Edwards intends to stay in Texas. While I'm of the opinion that he can exceed at any position, he is one of a few Democrats in our state that have figured out how to win -- and win big -- in a rural area of Texas.
His skills as a campaigner, politician, and community leader translate to his staff, too. Rep.-elect Chris Turner, who just defeated incumbent Republican Bill Zedler, hails from the Chet school of campaigning. So too does Jeff Rotkoff, who has worked alongside Jerry Philips for years at the House Democratic Campaign Committee. Edwards' leadership here in Texas is key to developing talented campaign workers and grassroots organizers right here at home.
Glad to hear you'll be around, Congressman Edwards!
As confusionabounds over who was responsible for the difficulties surrounding the deployment of PODs (Points Of Delivery) for ice, water, and food in Harris County following Hurricane Ike, State Sen. Mario Gallegos (D-Houston) says the blame rests with the state.
Gallegos, whose senate district included the hardest hit areas of Harris County and Houston, told Burnt Orange Report that the difficulties began Sunday around 3 p.m., shortly before a major press conference in Houston.
"Yesterday, just before that press conference, someone from the state called the city, the county, and FEMA and said that they were not participating in the PODs program," Gallegos said.
Until Sunday, the state had planned to participate in the deployment of the PODs. Who exactly from the state placed the call hasn't yet been confirmed. Some sources tell Burnt Orange Report the call came from State Emergency Management Coordinator Jack Colley.
State Rep. Patrick Rose (D-Dripping Springs) will host his 5th Annual BBQ Round Up at the Salt Lick in Driftwood on September 28 from 4:30pm to 7:00pm.
Country musician Jack Ingram will perform at the event.
Tickets are $25 for adults, $5 for students with ID and kids under 12 are free.
Ramus was held at the Hays County Jail and was released later yesterday after posting a $5,000 bond, according to Hays County Sheriff’s Lt. Leroy Opiela. Deadly conduct, a Class-A misdemeanor, comes with a punishment of up to one year in jail, a fine up to $4,000 or both, Opiela said.
The call came in just before 11 a.m. yesterday, Opiela said. Ramus’ neighbor on Old Bastrop Highway, Carolyn Logan, said she was on her riding lawn mower when Ramus came over with what she said looked like a rifle.
Ramus denies pointing the gun at Logan. He said he had been cleaning the gun on his porch and with the gun in his hand went over to tell a worker on Logan’s property not to push dirt on to his property. He said he wasn’t threatening, angry or provoking.
Ramus said the gun was not loaded when he went over to Logan’s property. Opiela said sheriff’s officials found the 12-gauge shotgun fully loaded.
Ramus is running against Democratic incumbent Debbie Gonzales Ingalsbe.
After a showing of support from the community, through emails and phone calls, we have shown that the community determines "community standards." The Bryan-College Station Eagle has made the decision to publish the wedding announcement of Robles-Scroggs in the Sunday edition of the Eagle. The announcement will be on the "wedding announcements" page, and will probably be found on the right side and lower half of the page.
Paul Robles and John Scroggs of College Station, Texas, were married on Tuesday, August 26, 2008, in a small ceremony in the city courthouse located in San Francisco, California. The ceremony was officiated by Dr. James Rosenheim of Bryan, Texas, and witnessed by Ms. Ginny Lowe of Loveland, Colorado. Both Mr. Robles and Mr. Scroggs have lived in the Bryan/College Station area for nearly 20 years, both having attended and currently work for Texas A&M University. Mr. Robles is the son of Dolores Robles and the late Frank Robles of Victoria, Texas. Mr. Scroggs is the son of John W. Scroggs and Eulia Rae Scroggs of Corpus Christi, Texas.
Even after Judge David Peeples declared challenger Martin Cuellar the winner in the never-ending Democratic primary for Webb County Sheriff, incumbent Rick Flores does not seem ready to concede.
Webb County Sheriff Rick Flores has filed an appeal with the Fourth Court of Appeals in San Antonio in the hopes that a judge's decision that declared Martin Cuellar the winner of the 2008 runoff election will be overturned.Cuellar attorney Baldemar Garcia Jr. said the appeal was filed Wednesday and signed by Flores himself, indicating Flores is currently without representation.
Judge David Peeples declared Cuellar the winner after a two-day election contest earlier this month despite allegations by Flores that several factors, including ballot-number discrepancies and problems with electronic voting machines, should have justified Peeples' ordering a new election.
Tessie Medina, a sheriff's department spokeswoman, issued a statement indicating Flores has received calls in which voters have expressed doubts about the accuracy of the ballot count.
"We hope the higher court will give the evidence we presented the consideration it deserves," the statement quotes Flores as saying.
Cuellar campaign manager Colin Strother said standard procedure is that a three-judge panel will hear the case and make a ruling, but both sides have the option of requesting the entire seven-member appellate court hear the case. That, he said, indicates the final ruling may still be two decisions away from being final.
For Flores, it was a big departure from July 19, when he seemed to indicate he was ready to concede.
"I hope and pray that my successor continues the fine tradition that this organization has provided in the last four years," a statement from Flores read.
While it is not over yet, congratulations to BOR reader (and Cuellar campaign manager) Colin Strother on what appears to be a big win.
From South Texas Chisme, there's news that the race for Jim Wells County Commissioner could be decided in court by the end of July.
J.C. Perez III seemed to have defeated incumbent Oswald "Wally" Olanis by 2 votes in the March 4 primary, but that turned out to be just the beginning.
[After the primary,] Alanis then filed suit in the 79th District Court protesting the election results and alleging several individuals were prevented from voting for him because of clerical errors.
Following a one-day trial, visiting District Judge Nelva Gonzales-Ramos issued a ruling April 15 finding that two voters were prevented from voting in the March 4 primary, a sufficient number to throw out the results and order a new election for June 17.
That special election was postponed on April 24, when Perez filed notice of his intent to appeal the ruling.
The Fourth Court of Appeals in San Antonio is scheduled to hear the case on July 22.
Some readers may remember that this is not the only primary race in Texas where the winner has still not be determined.
Flores attorney Randall "Buck" Wood stated last week that he has evidence several ineligible votes were cast April 8, including those by people who voted in the Republican primary and Democratic runoff, as well as votes cast by felons and incorrectly registered voters.
Cuellar attorney Martha De Llano said Flores has until July 1 to specifically list those people by name, address, voter registration and category ...
On Monday, [Rick Flores] issued a statement accusing the Cuellar camp of using the same techniques Laredo-area congressman and Cuellar's brother, U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, used during his 2004 race against Congressman Ciro Rodriguez.
"Henry's scheme involving endless court battles and a draw on resources, use of the courts and the appeals process, is déjá vu in the 2008 sheriff's race and ironically appears to be the same scenario with the same attorneys, which forced Congressman Rodriguez out of the race," Flores' statement reads. "That's not going to happen to us."
Perhaps the strangest part of the story is that Flores, who had been attending a training seminar at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, reportedly received a threat while he was in Cambridge.
Flores also said in his statement, issued Tuesday evening, that the "heat is being turned up in the sheriff's race" and that he received a threat Monday while in Boston.
According to a police report filed by Flores with the Harvard University Police Department, a man called Flores' cell phone "and said ‘cuidate y cuidad a tu familia' (sic), which means take care of yourself and take care of your family."
The report states Flores felt the threat was legitimate and informed the reporting officer that there had been a recent surge in violence in Webb County.
Calls to the university's police department were not returned. The police report indicated the case has been closed.
Tessie Medina, Webb County Sheriff's Department spokeswoman, said local deputies were providing extra security for the Flores family while Middlesex County and Harvard police were charged with protecting Flores during the seminar.
We will continue to keep an eye on this race, which seems to get more interesting by the day. As always, any readers (like Colin) who have special knowledge about this race, please don't hesitate to share it with us.
